The LA Kings are coming off a brutal overtime loss at the hands of the Edmonton Oilers and will head back to Los Angeles with the series tied 2-2.
While the loss stings, it was not the fault of their goaltender, Darcy Kuemper, who has had a stellar season. So much so that the NHL just named Kuemper a finalist for the prestigious Vezina Trophy, honoring hockey’s best goaltender.
Connor Hellebuyck, Darcy Kuemper, and Andrei Vasilevskiy are your Vezina Trophy finalists! #NHLAwards
— NHL (@NHL) April 28, 2025
The Vezina Trophy is awarded every year “to the goaltender adjudged to be the best at his position". 👏 pic.twitter.com/q2ssOI7egJ
LA Kings Goalie Darcy Kuemper Finalist For Vezina Trophy
The Vezina Trophy is awarded to the best regular-season goaltender. Kuemper is a finalist along with Winnipeg Jets goalie Connor Hellebuyck and Tampa Bay Lightning goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy.
Kuemper finished the regular season with an impressive record of 31-11-7, 6th best in the league. His goal against average of 2.02 was 2nd, and save percentage of .922% was 3rd. He also recorded 5 shutouts, which was tied for 4th.
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Kuemper is 34 years old and playing some of the best hockey of his career. He won the Stanley Cup with the Colorado Avalanche back in 2022, a feat that he hopes to accomplish with the Kings this season.
Connor Hellebuyck is viewed as the massive favorite to win the award, but Kuemper being a finalist is a huge honor, as the Vezina is regarded as one of the game’s most prestigious awards.
This is Kuemper’s 2nd stint with the LA Kings. He was with the organization back in 2017 before being traded to the Arizona Coyotes. In 2024, the Kings sent Pierre-Luc Dubois to the Washington Capitals in exchange for bringing Darcy Kuemper back to LA.